Are those new batteries really Australian made – by Dominic Spooner

This article was published first on @AuManufacturing with special thansk to Peter Roberts.

This blog post is a receation of the article that can be found here: https://www.aumanufacturing.com.au/are-those-new-batteries-really-australian-made-by-dominic-spooner

What makes a product Australian made? There’s more to it than just slapping on a kangaroo logo – especially when it comes to batteries, writes Dominic Spooner.

The lessons of COVID-19 and the Suez Canal blockage have made one thing clear – relying too much on overseas supply chains can leave us vulnerable.

Both sides of politics seem to agree – if we can manufacture locally, we should.

The battery industry is undergoing a major shift with a growing focus on Australian made, but there’s more to it than just assembling products here. It’s about building the capability to design, make, test and produce, right here in Australia.

Misleading Labels and Logos

It’s great to see more emphasis on Australian manufacturing, but there’s also a lot of confusion about what Australian made really means.

The different interpretations mean labelling can get tricky. Australian made doesn’t just mean made in Australia. It can mean Made in Australia, Assembled in Australia, Designed in Australia or Australian-owned.

The official guideline from the Australian Made website states that a product can be considered Australian made if it has been substantially transformed in Australia, or as a result of one or more processes carried out here, the end product is fundamentally different in identity, nature, or essential character from all of its imported ingredients or components.

Make sense? Mostly. Open to interpretation? Absolutely.

Is adding a company sticker enough to meet that guideline? Taking it off a pallet? Flashing custom firmware onto imported electronics?

It’s hard to know where to draw the line, and many don’t pass the pub test.

A Test of Transparency

Going through this exercise at our own company innovating in battery technology, we’ve broken down Vaulta’s battery packs to show what is truly designed, made, assembled, tested and sent in Australia.

Many manufacturers will carry a similar component breakdown so, when in doubt, remember you can always ask your reseller or installer for a breakdown of the Australian made identity of a product.

This exercise isn’t about chest beating – it’s about better transparency within our industry.

Yes, imported components are a reality in today’s global market, but we focus on local suppliers whenever possible because we believe it results in better quality control, reliability, and a better overall product.

Vaulta’s products are fully assembled and tested in Australia, with most components designed by Vaulta, and assembled from components either imported and or made in Australia:

• Battery cells – designed in China with Chinese sub-components
• Bus bars – designed by Vaulta with Chinese sub-components
• Casing/housing – designed by Vaulta with Chinese sub-components
• Cables – designed by Vaulta with sub-components from the UK, USA, China and Australia
• Sheet metal – designed by Vaulta with Australian sub-components
• Fasteners – designed in the the UK, USA, China or Australia with Australian sub-components
• Circuit boards – designed by Vaulta with sub-components from Australia, Taiwan or China
• Firmware – designed by Vaulta with Australian sub-components
• Software – designed by Vaulta with Australian sub-components
• Connectors – designed in the USA or China with sub-components from Australia
• And packaging – designed by Vaulta or Australian partners with sub-components from Australia.

Each of these components can be designed, sourced, assembled, and tested. Vaulta achieves a score of 37 out of a possible 44 in terms of how much of this process is done right here in Australia.

Addressing the Gaps

While we score highly, there’s still room for improvement.

For example:

• Battery Cells: These will likely come from China for some time, as Australia builds its local manufacturing capabilities. Assuming that Australian-made cells will be in short supply and more expensive when they become available, they’re likely to be prioritised for government projects. This makes Vaulta essential to the long-term success of Australia’s battery manufacturing industry
• Bus Bars: Unfortunately, we can’t yet source these in Australia in the way we need them, but we’re open to discussions with specialised metal manufacturers to close this gap
• Casing: Our cases are designed in Australia and undergo smaller batch production, which occur in China as it’s less available in Australia. As we scale up, we would ideally like this to be done locally and encourage suppliers to get in touch, particularly those dealing with vacuum casting, vacuum forming and injection moulding
• And fasteners & Connectors: These components are almost always made overseas, but again, we welcome conversations with local suppliers. Currently, the cables used to join these connectors are almost always made in-house by Vaulta staff.

Why All This Matters

This isn’t about bragging rights: it’s about transparency and helping consumers make better, more informed decisions around what they’re buying.

Yes, Australian-made products can sometimes come with a higher price tag due to the higher cost of doing business in Australia, but that shouldn’t mean misleading consumers or inflating prices unnecessarily.

Manufacturing in Australia is challenging but, by digging a little deeper into our selection process, we can support local industries, get a clearer picture on where products come from, and make smarter choices for the future of Australian manufacturing.

Dominic Spooner has 14 years of experience in product design and engineering, spanning mass-produced consumer products, defence, commercial products, satellite communications, energy storage and electric vehicles. As the founder and CEO of Vaulta, Dominic’s focus has been on battery casing innovation.